I attended a forum on Section 481 film tax credit recently organised by the Departments of Finance and Culture. A really interesting collection of people and great ideas emerged. At one point I mentioned that the value of copyright collections from the audio-visual sector globally was close to 700 million in 2022. That’s 700 million collected on behalf of creative people and copyright holders. Surely some of that should be accruing to Irish actors, screenwriters, directors, composers etc. Interestingly, when I raised this point I was advised that copyright only applies to writers. Actors might get usage fees but that’s a different. I was shocked when I heard this and more than a little taken aback and then I realised that important people were confusing the concept of copyright with the practice of usage fees. You don’t “get” copyright. Copyright is a form of property right (intellectual property) and arises automatically in the creation of original work (such as a performance). It is not something that is given you, it is an automatic right. Likewise, you don’t “get” usage, its not something that is in somebody elses’s gift, and its not fixed.. Usage is the negotiated price people pay you for the licence to use your copyright.
Consultant - Arts, Culture and Creative Industries 